Pole mounted brake

ABSTRACT

A pole mounted brake device has a unitary body with a passage through which the pole extends. The body is connected to the bottom of the planter, bird feeder, light fixture, or other container which is height adjustably mounted on the pole. A control element is biasedly positioned within the body for adjusting the vertical position of the body and the container on the pole. The control element is configured such that when it is pressed and slid downward within the body, the brake device which is connected to the container controls the movement of the container along the pole. When the pressure on the control element is released, the brake device and thus the container become immobilized on the pole. The pole brake also has application for controlling the movement of horizontally positioned, pole supported containers or objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Planters, bird feeders, lighting fixtures, and similar container/receptacles are often mounted on poles and many are designed to be vertically adjustable, up and down the pole. Examples of such manually adjustable systems are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/228,108 entitled Modular Bird Feeder System, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/381,346, Entitled Height Adjustable Container System. These and similar pole mounted systems employ vertical stop means to maintain their pole supported containers in the desired vertical heights. However, many of these stop means are ineffective and still others will not prevent the container from unintentionally sliding down and descending from its elevated position on the pole. There is currently no device which will both maintain a pole supported container at the desired height and also allow measured adjustment along the pole. There is also no device which could also provide a backup stopping or braking action to maintain the container in position on the pole until the container is actually going to be moved. Such a device should be configured to be mounted on the pole and be connected directly to the container in order to quickly, easily, and safely move the container up and down the length of the pole. The device also should be adaptable for use on a horizontal pole or support to control movement of a container or object horizontally along the pole or support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pole mounted brake of the present invention meets these objectives. It serves as an effective stop to maintain containers vertically on poles and generally in controlling the movement of such containers along poles. The present invention not only acts as a brake device to maintain an elevated container in position on the pole, but also could be used as a safety backup to a primary stop means, ensuring that the container remains in that elevated position without unexpected movement. The pole mounted brake of the present invention, mounted on the pole and secured to the elevated container, also permits incremental movement of the container vertically along the length of the pole.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a pole mounted brake device comprising a unitary body through which the pole extends. The body is connected to the bottom of the planter, bird feeder, light fixture, or other container which is height adjustably mounted on the pole. A control element is biasedly positioned within the body for adjusting the vertical position of the body and the container on the pole. The control element is configured such that when it is pressed, pushed, or otherwise actuated and slid downward within the body, the brake device which is connected to the container controls the movement of the container along the pole. When the pressure on the control element is released, the brake device and thus the container become immobilized on the pole. The pole brake also has application in controlling the movement of horizontally positioned, pole supported containers or objects.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the brake device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the brake device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the brake device of the present invention in the immobilized, stationary position on a pole.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the brake device of the present invention in position to allow the brake device and pole supported container to move up and down the pole.

FIG. 5 shows the pole brake of the present invention, fully biased, to assist in maintaining a pole mounted bird feeder in its elevated position.

FIG. 6 shows the pole brake of the present invention demonstrating the adjustable movement of a pole mounted bird feeder along its pole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, but specific attention first to FIGS. 3 and 4, pole brake 1 of the present invention comprises unitary body 2 having longitudinally extending axis 4, outer wall 6, and internal passage 8 through which pole 50 extends. Body 2 is positioned around pole 50 such that central longitudinal axis 4 is also the central longitudinal axis of the pole. Body 2, slideable up and down pole 50, is configured to be secured by threaded connection 54 or similar equivalent connection means, to a container 60, also slideably supported on pole 50. Container 60 can be a planter, birdfeeder, or other receptacle having a through opening into which pole 50 is received. By this configuration, manual up and down movement of body 2 of pole brake 1 compels corresponding movement of container 60.

As best seen in FIG. 2, body 2 comprises lateral opening 10 extending through outer wall 6 into passage 8. Lateral opening 10 is surrounded by side wall 12. Ledge member 14 with ledge surface 16 extends from side wall 12, into opening 10. Ledge member 14 and its ledge surface 16 extend at an angle relative to longitudinal axis 4 of body 2, the ledge member being inclined increasingly away from pole 50, such that its upper end is closer to the pole than its lower end.

Brake control or stop element 20 comprises bottom surface 24 and ledge 26, inclined at the same angle as ledge member 14 within opening 10. Control element 20 is located within opening 10, such that its ledge 26 rests flush on ledge surface 16 of ledge member 14. Tab 28 is upstanding from control element 20. By actuating tab 28, in this case pressing the tab down, control element 20 is slideable up and down ledge surface 16.

Control element 20 also comprises extension 30 on which one end of spring 32 is mounted. The other end of spring 32 is in flush contact with the lower end of side wall 12. This spring, or equivalent biased actuating means, is configured and particularly positioned and biased within opening 10 to compel control element 20 upward against the upper end of side wall 12, as best seen in FIG. 3. And during normal braking operation, control element 20 is maintained in this position. Cover 34 is provided to overlay opening 10 and control element 20, while permitting actuating tab 28 to extend outward of the cover.

When control element 20 is biased up against the upper end of side wall 12, as seen in FIG. 3, it is in its extended position. In this position, angled ledge 26 rests on angled ledge member 14 within opening 10, its bottom surface 24 extending into passage 8 at an angle in relation to longitudinal axis 4, such that the bottom surface contacts and pushes directly on the outer surface of pole 50. The biasing force of spring 32 against control element 20 maintains the control element in this pole contacting position, thus substantially preventing movement of pole brake 1 and, hence container 60, to which the pole brake is attached. FIG. 5 shows an exemplar container, bird feeder 60, maintained in an elevated position on pole 50 by pole brake 1.

When it is desired or necessary to slide container 60 up or down pole 50, tab 28 is simply actuated or pressed downward, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. This downward pressure acts against the biasing force of spring 32, allowing control element 20 to slide on its ledge 26, on surface 16 of ledge member 14, in a downward direction. Since ledge member 14 is angled in relation to longitudinal axis 4, bottom surface 24 on control element 20 is caused to move away and off pole 50. As contact between bottom surface 24 and pole 50 decreases, pole brake 1 and container 60 become increasingly easier to move along the pole. Continued downward pressure on tab 28 will ultimately result in control element 20 being fully retreated from its biased position shown in FIG. 3; there being no contact between bottom surface 24 of the control element and pole 50, as seen in FIG. 4. Pole brake 1 and its supported container 60 become freely moveable up and down pole 50, as long as tab 28 continues to be depressed, as seen in FIG. 6.

When the desired position of container 60 on pole 50 is reached, pressure is simply removed from tab 28. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, this causes an immediate expansion of spring 32 within opening 10, resulting in control element 20 sliding back up ledge member 14 in the opposite, upward direction and almost instantaneously returning it to its fully extended, uppermost position against side wall 12. Bottom surface 24 also returns to its pole contacting position, thereby again securing and maintaining pole brake 1 and container 60 in a stationary position on pole 50.

While other uses of pole brake 1 are contemplated, it is anticipated that the placement of the pole brake, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, would ensure that the movement of pole mounted containers, such as bird feeder 60, will be carefully and safely controlled. Actuating tab 28 allows for the slow, controlled movement of bird feeder 60 up and down pole 50. Once bird feeder 60 reaches the desired height on pole 50, tab 28 is released and bird feeder 60 remains in place on the pole, held in position by pole brake 1.

It is evident that pole brake 1 can be used to adjust and then maintain the position of different pole mounted containers such as planters, birdfeeders, light fixtures and the like. However, it also can serve as a valuable, back-up safety stop device when used with another stop means, the pole brake being employed as a secondary stop to ensure that pole mounted containers are not unintentionally caused to freely slide downward on their poles.

It is also anticipated that pole brake 1 could be used to control horizontal movement of a container or other object along a pole or equivalent horizontally positioned support member. For this use, as well, tab 28 would be actuated to control the movement of pole brake 1 and hence the movement of the object along the horizontal support member. When tab 28 is released, bottom surface 24 of control element 20 contacts the surface of the support member to maintain the container or object in place on the support member.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A pole mounted brake for maintaining the vertical position of a container mounted on and slideable along a pole, said pole brake comprising: a unitary body with a longitudinally extended axis for supporting the container on the pole, said body comprising a passage for receiving the pole and a ledge surface extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body; control means mounted within and extending from the body for adjusting the vertical positions of the body and the container on the pole, said control means having a ledge which rests flush and is slideable on the ledge surface of the body; and biasing means for compelling the control means in an upward direction within the body, whereby when the control means is actuated and slid downward on the ledge surface, the biasing means is compressed allowing vertical movement of the body and the container along the pole, and when the control means is released, the biasing means compels the control means upward, immobilizing the body and the container on the pole.
 2. The pole mounted brake as in claim 1 wherein the body further comprises an opening surrounded by side walls in which the control means is located.
 3. The pole mounted brake as in claim 2 wherein the ledge surface is located on the side walls.
 4. The pole mounted brake as in claim 1 wherein the control means has a bottom surface and the immobilization of the body and the container on the pole results from contact between the bottom surface and the pole, and vertical movement of the body and the container along the pole results from contact being removed between the bottom surface and the pole.
 5. The pole mounted brake as in claim 4 wherein the body further comprises an opening surrounded by side walls and wherein the ledge surface is located on the side walls.
 6. The pole mounted brake as in claim 1 further comprising tab means for actuating the control means.
 7. A pole mounted brake for maintaining the position of a container mounted on and slideable along the pole, said pole brake comprising: a unitary body with a longitudinal axis for supporting the container on the pole; stop means mounted within the unitary body for adjusting the positions of the body and the container on the pole; and biasing means for controlling the position of the stop means within the body, whereby when the stop means is compelled to its fully extended position within the body, the body and the container are immobilized on the pole, and when the stop means is compelled to retreat from its extended position within the body, the body and container are moveable along the pole.
 8. The pole mounted brake as in claim 7 wherein the stop means comprises a control element having a bottom surface and a ledge which is supported by and slideably located within the body.
 9. The pole mounted brake as in claim 7 wherein the body further comprises an opening surrounded by side walls.
 10. The pole mounted brake as in claim 9 wherein the side walls comprise a ledge surface extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body.
 11. The pole mounted brake as in claim 10 wherein the stop means comprises a ledge which rests flush and is slideable on the ledge surface of the body.
 12. The pole mounted brake as in claim 7 wherein the stop means has a bottom surface and the immobilization of the body and the container on the pole results from contact between the bottom surface and the pole and vertical movement of the body and the container along the pole results from contact being removed between the bottom surface and the pole.
 13. The pole mounted brake as in claim 7 further comprising tab means for actuating the stop means.
 14. A pole mounted brake for maintaining the position of a container mounted on and slideable along a pole, said pole brake comprising: a unitary body with a longitudinally extended axis for controlling the position of the container on the pole, said body comprising a passage for receiving the pole and a ledge surface extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body; control means mounted within and extending from the body for adjusting the positions of the body and the container on the pole, said control means having a ledge which rests flush and is slideable on the ledge surface of the body; and biasing means for compelling the control means in a first direction within the body, whereby when the control means is actuated and slid along the ledge surface, the biasing means is compressed allowing movement of the body and the container along the pole, and when the control means is released, the biasing means compels the control means in said first direction to immobilize the body and the container on the pole.
 15. The pole mounted brake as in claim 14 wherein the body further comprises an opening surrounded by side walls in which the control means is located.
 16. The pole mounted brake as in claim 15 wherein the ledge surface is located on the side walls.
 17. The pole mounted brake as in claim 14 wherein the control means has a bottom surface and the immobilization of the body and the container on the pole results from contact between the bottom surface and the pole, and movement of the body and the container along the pole results from contact being removed between the bottom surface and the pole.
 18. The pole mounted brake as in claim 14 wherein when the biasing means is compressed, the body and the container move along the pole in a second direction within the body.
 19. The pole mounted brake as in claim 14 further comprising tab means for actuating the control means. 